Might be heading to Canada end march. i have a US visa, if i fly to the USA (lets say JFK) and fly to canada, will a visa be needed? i recall last time i went to Canada LAX-SLC-YEG, upon arrival in Edmonton, the immigartion just checked the picture on the passport, stamped my passport and i am in.

If you're going to be coming to Canada (rather than transiting) and your country does not have a visa agreement with Canada you WILL need a visa. Your US visa has nothing to do with this, Canada is its own country despite what some would like to think.

A friend of mine got deported from Canada at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. He was in the US side and wanted to visit the Canadian side. He thought the US Visa was enough to be allowed entry into Canada but he was refused entry on the Canadian side and had to return to the US.

Get a visa, it's easy. Here in Caracas I got mine in less than 10 minutes back in 2005.

You will require a visa, although as you note, coming from the USA it is largely hit-or-miss if they bother to check that documentation is in order. CHC in Accra does same day visa service as a matter of routine, so there is minimal hassle involved.